Do you feel lonely even though your social media profile is booming?
You are not the only one! Studies have shown that virtual interaction on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter can fuel feelings of isolation and anxiety.
Earlier this month, the Economist reported how adult Americans that engage with Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp spend around 20 hours a month on the three services, and how adult American touch their phones 2,600 times pr. day in average. Simultaneously, 91% of young 16-24 year-olds use the internet for social media. Despite social media’s potential for connecting people around the world in different communities, much evidence shows that profound online networking activity has negative effects on our mental health.
“It (ed. the internet) can occupy large amounts of time in our everyday life, distracting us from work or other activities, from reading books to engaging in face to face encounters with friends, diminishing traditional bonds of friendship and community engagement…,” explains Dr. Carolina Matos, who is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at City, University of London. Furthermore, seeing staged pictures of our friend’s perfect lives can promote a feeling of “compare and despair”, as our own life suddenly feels insufficiently successful.
A study executed by the Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health at the University of Pittsburgh found that the more frequently people use social media, the more they suffer from perceived social isolation. Meanwhile a recent report from the Royal Society for Public Health states that social media platforms strengthen youngsters’ feelings of anxiety. This is because high expectations to show off on social media lower their self-esteems and probe for perfectionism. Therefore, even though social media increases your network significantly, it may be a good idea to pay attention to the way it affects your brain and body.
